Leeds United face Bristol City in the Championship on Monday and here is how Daniel Farke could line up his side.
It feels like the Championship season is already over, given the celebrations that have taken place after Leeds United secured Premier League promotion on Easter Monday.
With speculation already swirling around Daniel Farke’s job and the summer transfer window, not to mention plans to expand Elland Road moving forward, it’s as if all eyes are now looking to the future.
But there are still two games to go yet as Leeds duke it out with Burnley to finish the campaign as Champions.
Leeds’ final game at Elland Road this season will be held on Monday as promotion-chasing Bristol City make the long trip to Yorkshire.
Here is how Farke could line up his side for the game.
Will Daniel Farke make any changes against Bristol City?
It’s actually quite hard to predict how this game will go and how seriously Farke will take it.
The Leeds squad haven’t exactly been living like prime athletes this week as they rightfully celebrated their achievement and it can be hard to get back up for games after such an emotional release.
Farke did say in his pre-match press conference that winning the title would be ‘special’ and he will ‘try everything’ to do so, but he also didn’t sound too concerned if they don’t.
The manager said: “We have finished the job. There’s no advantage in the Premier League by winning the title.
“Overall, the big challenge was to bring the club back to the PL. This is achieved. We have played the best season for the club.”
So it’s also difficult to tell if he will make changes to the side or not.
Will Dan James return to Leeds starting XI vs Bristol City?
The big question is whether the star of the season, Dan James, will be fit to play.
James suffered a hamstring injury against Middlesbrough and missed one game before returning as a late substitute in the win over Oxford United. However, he admitted he came back too soon in the match, which was obvious from his performance.
Thankfully, no further damage was done but he sat out the Stoke game with a view of being fit for Bristol, which he said he would be on Monday.
Still, it would be a bit of a risk for James to come back into the starting XI in case he worsens the injury and derails this summer’s preparations. Instead, a late cameo off the bench to receive appreciation from the home crowd would work well.
The same can be said for Joe Rothwell, who is expected to be fit for the match after missing the Easter Weekend double header. It could be the midfielder’s final game at Elland Road ahead of a return to Bournemouth.
Many fans will be hoping to see more of young starlet Harry Gray after his debut off the bench against Stoke. Hopefully, he will get more minutes but it’s difficult to see Farke starting him when there’s still something to play for.
In fact, providing everyone is fighting fit after the celebrations, the manager may well just name an unchanged side to the one that so thoroughly destroyed Stoke.
Predicted Leeds line-up vs Bristol City: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; Gnonto, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe.
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